Thelma May Peterson

Thelma May Peterson June 23, 1923 ~ April 24, 2015 Thelma May Peterson, 91, of Wenatchee, WA, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2015, after a battle with cancer. She was born June 23, 1923, in Wallowa, OR to Eugene and Florence Knotts. Thelma was raised and educated in Lostine, OR. She was a typing champ and on the basketball team that won a State Championship her senior year. Thelma was very proud of that achievement. They traveled to games in the back of an old pickup and slept four to a bed. After graduation, she married Henry "Hank" Smith. They had four children, Carol "Maggie", David "Butch", Helen and Gary. Hank was killed in a hunting accident in 1963. Thelma later married her high school friend, Robert "Bob" Peterson of Wallowa in 1965. With this marriage came another daughter, Cheryl Lavern. Thelma and Robert loved to spend winter getaways in Maui with Helen and KN. In 1990, they decided to move closer to family and picked Wenatchee, where she continued doing her sewing and needlework. Thelma was a wonderful cook and baker. After a long and very happy life, she became ill again in 2014, but was able to be well until the end. She passed away surrounded by family in her home as she had wished. She is survived by husband, Robert (Bob); children, Carol (Carl) Erickson of Centralia, WA, David (Bev) of Belgrade, MT, Helen (KN) Klinginsmith and Gary (Sally) Smith, all of Wenatchee, WA; step-daughter, Cheryl Driggs-Brown of Summers, AR; one brother, Howard (wife, Donna) Knotts of Walla Walla, WA; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Raymon Knotts and Robert Knotts; and one sister, Patricia Kiessig. Thelma did not want a sad farewell, only happiness and laughter. There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, May 10, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., at the East Wenatchee Mausoleum in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, located at 1301 10th Street NE. Bring happy memories and smiles. Afterwards will be dinner at the home of Helen and KN Klinginsmith at 412 Greenwalt, Wenatchee. Arrangements by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Thelma May Peterson

June 23, 1923 - April 24, 2015